During a routine physical in June of 2015, 50-year-old Jenifer E. Thorn, PhD, a Program Director in Sports Medicine at Keiser University, wasn’t thinking about the possibility of breast cancer. Just eight months prior she had a routine mammogram that came back negative, so she was shocked when her primary care physician found a lump.
Jenifer was sent to Radiology Associates for follow up testing where she found out she had breast cancer.
“A million things run through your head when you hear something like this. I was particularly concerned that I had no family history of cancer, so I researched everything I could and requested a second opinion,” said Jenifer.
One of Jenifer’s friends was a breast cancer survivor and recommended she look into Moffitt Cancer Center.
“My family lived in Tampa, so Moffitt Cancer Center seemed like a natural fit. I sent them my biopsy from Radiology Associates and went through ct scans, bone scans and an MRI. They concluded I had Stage IIB triple positive breast cancer.”
For most large, node positive “triple positive” (hormone receptor and HER2 receptor expressing) breast cancer patients, chemotherapy is recommended prior to surgery. Jenifer decided to start chemotherapy at Moffitt.
Working 40 hours a week, on top of the long drive from Tallahassee to Tampa to receive chemotherapy, Jenifer was becoming physically and mentally exhausted. She knew she needed to start looking into other options.
“I was extremely blessed with an amazing support system from my family and friends as well as the administration, faculty and staff at Keiser University. However the long drive to and from treatment started to take its toll. I felt it was important to have a local medical oncologist to help me address chemotherapy side effects and potential emergencies.”
At Tallahassee Memorial’s Cancer Center, Jenifer was seen by Karen Russell, MD, FACP, Hematologist/Oncologist.
“I thought she was the greatest,” said Jenifer. “When we met we connected instantly. She has this passion for helping her patients and making us feel like everything will be all right. On top of this passion, she also has research experience and knew the best treatments for my type of breast cancer.”
Each time Jenifer would return back from her trips to Tampa, Dr. Russell would see her for follow up care.
“My first few treatments at Moffitt went well, however after my fifth infusion, I just started feeling different. I became severely dehydrated and went to the Tallahassee Memorial Bixler Trauma & Emergency Center for fluids.”
A week later, Jenifer started to feel bad again and contacted the Tallahassee Memorial Cancer Center. After speaking with Dr. Russell’s nurse, she was advised to go to the hospital to be admitted for monitoring. Dr. Russell came by to check on Jenifer and found she was severely dehydrated and needed fluids, in addition to a blood transfusion.
In an instant, Jenifer went from being simply dehydrated to needing emergency surgery. She started vomiting blood and Dr. Russell and a team of physicians gathered together to make decisions about her treatment. Quick tests showed Jenifer had a major artery rupture in her small intestine.
Jenifer had emergency surgery by Eliot Sieloff, MD, General Surgeon at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. She spent four days in the intensive care unit followed by three additional days in the hospital for recovery.
“If I had not been at TMH getting fluids, I would not be here today. I knew I was at the right place at the right time. Dr. Russell has saved my life more than once and I am forever grateful.”
Once she was healed, Jenifer had a bilateral mastectomy in Tampa where 29 lymph nodes were removed and returned home to Tallahassee to begin radiation therapy treatments.
“I remember sitting with Dr. Russell at the Tallahassee Memorial Cancer Center going over my treatment options for radiation. I told her, I have enormous trust and confidence in her as my medical oncologist and that I would leave it to her to see who whom I should see as my radiation oncologist at TMH.”
Dr. Russell recommended Philip Sharp, MD, Radiation Oncologist at the Tallahassee Memorial Cancer Center.
“Dr. Sharp and I connected instantly too, as he answered my 100 questions during the initial consult. He would go through his routine physical with me to make sure I was doing well and then we would talk football or Harry Potter. It was great to have a bond with my radiation oncologist and at the same time, feel incredibly confident with the care he provided.”
Jenifer’s days became routine for the next month. Receiving radiation every day for 34 days, she would go to work and then end her afternoon at the Cancer Center with a team that had turned into family.
“Coming from a place like Moffitt which is a larger facility, it’s a relief to be at a place like TMH where it’s much more intimate. I had a relationship with every single person who worked there. Everyone knew my name and was so positive. It was really uplifting knowing that receiving treatment is the toughest part of the journey.”
About half way through her treatment on March 2, Jenifer celebrated a birthday. She knew just how she wanted to spend her special day.
“I was sitting in the radiation waiting room all dressed in my gown ready for treatment with this huge cake on my lap. The tech asked what the cake was for and I told her it was my birthday. My thinking was -- what better way to celebrate than have a piece of cake with my ‘rad buddies?’ Nurses, doctors and radiation techs all gathered around and we enjoyed the cake together. It was something I will never forget.”
Throughout her journey, Jenifer can reflect on the outstanding care she was provided at Tallahassee Memorial as well as the love and support of family and friends.
“My mantra throughout this entire journey was to have hope and believe in the process. For I knew God’s plan for me was hope and a bright future. My belief in Dr. Russell and Dr. Sharp at the Tallahassee Memorial Cancer Center was part of the process and I had confidence that I would be a breast cancer survivor.”
TMH is happy to report Jenifer is cancer free but will still be in the halls of the Cancer Center helping others with her new dog Hope, named after her treatment mantra, who she will have trained to become part of the Tallahassee Memorial Animal Therapy program.
